Automobile clutch control



April 7, 1925. 1,532,494

L. JAMES AUTOMOBILE CLUTCH CONTROL Filed April 19, 1924 9 BY v ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 7, 1925.

UNETEDFVSTATES LESLIE JAMES, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMOBILE CLUTCH CONTROL.

' Application filed April 19, 1924. Serial No. 707,749.

T 0 (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEsLIn JAMEs, a citizen of the United States residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful'Im provements in Automobile Clutch Controls, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clutch controlling devices especially adapted for use on Ford automobiles.

Briefly stated an important object of this invention is to provide a novel means whereby the depression of the brake pedal on a Ford automobile will result in the movement of the clutch pedal to a neutral position so that it will not be necessary to separately move the clutch pedal to its neutral position.

A further object is to provide a clutch pedal controlled device which will permit the brake pedal to be depressed to its fullest extent without a corresponding depression of the clutch pedal.

Also an important aim of this invention is to provide a clutch pedal controlled de vice which will permit of the depression of the clutch pedal at any time and without the corresponding depression of the brake pedal.

A further object is to provide a control device which may be conveniently applied to an automobile either during the course of manufacture or at any time thereafter With out marring the appearance of the vehicle and without the exercise of unusual skill.

' Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a vertical section view through the improved control mechanism applied;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates a planetary transmission with which clutch, reverse and brake pedals 6, 7 and 8 respectively are associated in the usual and well known manner.

' The pedals extend up through the floor boards 9 and are, of course adapted to be depressed by the operator for controlling the transmission and for bringing the vehicle to a halt.

The invention forming the subject matter of this application resides in providing simple and reliable means whereby the depression of the pedal 8 will result in the movement of the clutch pedal 6 to a neutral position so that it is necessary to depress only one pedal when it is desired to bring the vehicle to a halt. Fig. 2 illustrates that a lever 10 is connected intermediate its ends as indicated at 11'to a suitable support such as the floor board and is provided at one end with a link 12.

The link 12 is pivotally connected as indicated at 14: tothe lever 10 and may be provided with a bifurcated forward end 15 for engagement with the pedal 6 so as to swing the pedal to a neutral position.

It is thus seen that the movement of the lever 10 in a clockwise direction will result in the advancement of the pedal 6. That end of the lever 10 which is adjacent the brake pedal 8 is curved longitudinally and is provided with an arcuate slot 16 having a longitudinal branch 17 for the reception of a bearing member or pin 18 on one end of a lever 19. The lever 19 is connected intermediate the ends thereof as indicated at 20 to a suitable support such as the floor boards and a link 22 extends from the lever 19 to the pedal 8 so that when the pedal 8 is depressed the-bearing pin 18 will engage one side wall of the slot 16 and thereby swing the lever on its fulcrum 11. However the continued depression of the pedal Swill result in the movement of the pin 18 into the branch 17 and further swinging movement of the lever 10 will be stopped. l Vhen the pin 18 is moved into the slot 16 it will bear against one side wall of the slot and thereby hold the lever 10 in set or operative position. That is to say when the pin or bearing member 18 moves out of the longitudinal branch of the slot 16 the lever 10 will not be permitted to instantly return to its inoperative position and thereby allow the clutch pedal to return to its retracted position. It is believed to be obvious that when the brake pedal 8 is depressed by the operator the link 22 is drawn forwardly for swinging the lever 19 on its fulcrum 2O whereupon the lever 10 is turned a limited extent so its connectionwith the lever 19 by the bearing memberlS. As the pedal 8 continues its movement to advanced position the bearing member. 18 will more. into the slot lG thereby holding the lever in a set position. lVhen the clutch pedaltis moved to its intermediate position the transmission is in neutral. However the use otthis device does not prevent the separate actuation of the pedal and the. movement to its extreme forward position for operation of the transmission. in low V In carrying out the invention a suitable housing 30 may, extend over the levers and associated mechanism to prevent the carpet from becomingj entangled in the. mechanism and to excludefdirti Thehousing 30 is provided with" side walls32 the rear wall being apertured'tor'the reception of links 12 and 22. It; will be seen with reference to Fig. Qithatf the front wall 32 of the housingis formed with boss 37 which guides, the link 12 and thereby holds the forward end of the samein position to properly engage the pedal 6.

A control device constructed in accordance with this invention may be economically manufactured and conveniently applied tov a motor vehicle without interfering; with the'operation ofthe vehicle or marring the pp r nc of t e ame- Having thus described the invention, what is claimedis: l

1. A control mechanism for use on planetary. transmissionsj of automobiles comprising a leverjhaving air arcuate slot and a branch communicating with theslot a lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends and having a bearing member normally received in said branchfand a link connected to said second named lever and ad ted tonco n nectionwith thebrakepedalt a planetary transmission whereby the depression of the brake pedahswings the second named lever to position said bearing member in the arcuate slot andthereby move the first named, lever a limited extent. i

2. A controlmechanisin for use on. planetary transmissions of automobilescomprising a lever having one endformedwith an arcuate slot and a branch communicating with'the slot, a lever fulcrumedintermediate its ends and having a bearing member normally received in said brancln a. link connected to saidsecond named lever and adapted for connection with the brake pedal etary transmissions of automobiles com'prising a lever having one end formed with an arcuate slot and a branch communicating with the slot, a lever tulcrumed; intermediate its ends. and having a bearing member normally receivedin said branch, a link connected tosaid second named lever and adapted for connection with the brake pedal of a planetary transmission whereby the depression of the brake pedal swings the second named lever to position said bearing mem her in the arcuate slot and thereby move the namedlever a limited extent, and a link connection to one end of said first named lever and adapted for engaging. the clutch pedal ot a transmission, and a. housing receiving said first and second named leversand havingmeans to guid e said second named link.

4. control attachment for planetary transmissions of automobiles comprising a link adapted for connection with the brake 11 1 of? a n miss on; a v r conee e 't s idJ Qk a having n that pro d d w h a bearing member, a main lever h'alvi'ng one end curved longitudinally and formed with an arcuate slot havinga straight branch rei lneg t e be ns..m b 1 f a di firs najmedlever, a linkpivoted to thesaid lever andadapted to contact with the chit-c t pedal of a transmission, and a housing receiving saidfiist andsecond named levers and having means to guide said second named link, the bearing member of said first named'lev er being adaptedto be received in saidlarcuatc slotah engage one wall of the same to hold said second named lever inset position;

In testimony whereof I aliixmy signature.

LESLIE. JANE-S... 

